Fence



(No Model.) 2 Sheets,Sheet 1.

J. T. CONOVER. PENGB.

No. 571,150. Pagnted Nov. 1 0, 1896' I IN VE N TOR WI NESSE @5 1 v Arm/MEN- m: NORRIS PETERS co PnoTouwu. wnsuma'rou. a c.

(No Model. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. T. CONOVER.

PENGB.

'No. 571,150. Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

INVENTOR ATM/HEW.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. CONOVER, OF FLEMINGTON, NElV JERSEY.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 571,150, dated November 10, 1896. Application filed March 9, 1895. fierial No. 541,092. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN T. CoNovEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Flemington, county of Hunterdon, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in Fences, of which the intermediate of the posts for strengthening and holding the wires in position and in connection with the line-posts, all of which will more fully appear in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, and in which Figure 1 represents in elevation a section of my improved fence, also showing the ground connection; Fig. 2, a modification of the same, showing a different arrangement of the wires between the posts Fig. 3, the loweror ground section of the posts; Fig. 4, a view of the upper section of an end post; Fig. 5, a similar View of the upper section of a line-post; Fig. 6, a form of yoke or picket which I employ, designed to be applied to all the wires of the fence and the form of which and method of its application are determined to some extent by the kind offence constructed. Figs. 7 and 8 designate difierent forms of braces or pickets which may also be employed, and Fig. 9 the anchor or locking device which I employ to secure the end posts.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates the lower section or base of my improved post. It is made of iron and preferably cast in the form shown, having a baseplate 3, of any desired form, and flanges or arms at, tapering to the top or stem 5, preferably of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and also preferably provided with transverse vertical slots 6, extending therethrough in both directions, which are adapted to receive the bolts by which the top section of the post is secured to the base or bottom section. These slots are also designed to admit of the post being made shorter or longer, as desired, by simply adjusting the upper part 7 011 the base by means thereof and the bolt by which the parts are united. The stem 5 of the base is made slightly tapering to prevent the slipping of the top when once in position by reason of the downward pressure thereon, and the bottom section is so formed as to secure from the smallest possible amount of material the required strength and power of resistance to withstand any strain liable to be placed upon it.

The upper section 7 is preferably made of angle iron or steel and is secured to the lower section, as above indicated. It is made of L or T or any other suitable form of manufactured iron or steel, having suitable flanges to admit of its connection with the base, as de scribed, and for the attachment of the wires and draw-braces or stays 8.

The anchor 9 is preferably formed of castiron and is of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 9. It is provided at one end with a slot 10, intended to fit around one of the flanges 4 of the bottom post, above the base-plate, and one of the said flanges is preferably cut away as shown at 11, Fig. 3, to admit of this connection, though the exact form, size, and location of this anchor are immaterial, its object being to support the top section by means of the brace-rods 8.

The bottom of the anchor-plate, as shown in Fig. 9, is provided with lugs or projections 12 and a recess 13, the latter being designed to receive the lower end of the draw-brace 8, as shown in Fig. 1, which is provided with a cross-bar 14., which is designed to rest beneath the plate and operate against the lugs 12' thereon to secure the draw-brace in position.

The draw-brace is composed of two suitable rods, the upper one of which is secured near the top of the post and the lower one to the anchor,as described, and the adjacent ends are screw-threaded and provided with a thumb buckle or link 15, by means of which the parts may be tightened and the top of the posts sustained in an upright position against the strain caused thereon by the wires, thus holding the fence firmly and preventing the sagging thereof between the posts.

IOO

In my improved fence the wires are connected with the end posts in the usual manner, the latter being punched or drilled and the wires being passed through the perforations thus formed and secured by a ratchet 16 in the usual manner. This construction may be applied to both end posts, if desired, or to one, if found suflicient', and in all cases I provide each-wire with a spiral spring 17, to provide for expansion and contraction occasioned by changes in temperature. In the case of the line or intermediate posts, how-, ever, I provide a more convenient means of attaching and detaching the wires. One of these posts is shown at 18, Figs. 1 and 5, and the means for attaching the wires thereto consists of diagonal or inclined slots 19, formed in one of the flanges of the post, preferably deep enough to receive the wire, after which the slot is closed by a blow upon the projecting point and the wire is securely held in position. It will be observed that, as shown in the drawings, a number of these slots are inclined upward, a number downward, and the central slot is straight. In this case the central slot is closed by a screw-bolt provided with a nut, as shown at 20, Figs. 1 and 5.

I have shown in the drawings two varieties of pickets or braces, one of which, 21, extends from the top to the bottom of the fence and connects with all the wires, while the others, 22, (shown in Figs. 7 and 8,) connect with only a portion of the wires and are of the following form: The form shown in Fig. 7 consists of a piece of sheet metal folded down to present the form of a scroll in cross-section, bein g folded in the middle, and each edge folded upon itself, so that the central fold projects in front of the side folds. This central fold is then notched or grooved, as at 22, and the picket is connected with the wires by placing the latter in this groove and securing it by passing a short wire around the picket and securing the ends to the fence-wire.

The form of picket shown in Fig. 8 consists of a piece of metal or wood having a transverse slot or groove, and the fence-wire is secured thereto by means of a short wire passed around the picket and in said slot or groove and having its ends secured to the fence-wire.

By the use of the longer yokes or pickets I produce two different styles of fence, the one shown in Fig. 1, which I term the compression style, and that shown in Fig. 2, which 'I call the expansion style.

The means for attaching the wire to the long pickets in each case consists of loops or hooks 23, formed on or attached to the picket.

In Fig. 1, the contraction style, there are six hooks designed to receive six wires. Of these six three project downward and three upward, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and the pickets are preferably attached to the wires, as shown in Fig. 1, the distance between the pickets being about twice that between the pickets and the posts. The distance between the two middle wires on the posts is about twice that of the other wires, and the distance between the hooks 23 011 the long pickets is about equal throughout, and also equal to the distance between the three upper and three lower wires on the posts. IVith this arrangement it will be seen that when the long pickets are in position the upper series of wires, as shown in the drawings, threein number, will be deflected downward, and the lower series, also three in number, will be inclined upward, or at least that portion thereof between the long pickets and the posts, thus giving each panel of the fence the effect and appearance of a double set of trusses, the effect of which is to bind the wires securely together, whereby they are best qualified to resist any downward, upward, or lateral pressure. These panels are flexible,of course,and yield slightly when lateral pressure is exerted thereon. be made either of metal or wood, and are attached to the wires between the long pickets in the manner shown in Figs. 1, 7, and 8. I prefer the arrangement of these pickets shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as by this arrangement each. panel is bound more securely together as a whole, and said short pickets aid in giving the panel the truss form hereinbefore referred to.

In the style of fence shown in Fig. 2 it will be observed that the long pickets there employed are so applied as to spread the separate wires from the center instead of contracting them to that point, and it will also be ob served that the lower wire of the upper series and the upper wire of the lower series are each attached to the posts at the same point. In this construction the upper series of hooks 23 on the long pickets are directed upward and the lower series downward, and the wires are attached thereto in the same manner as with the construction hereinbefore described, the only difference being that referred to, wherein the upper series of wires, three in number, are deflected upward from the posts, and the lower series, three in number, are deflected downward, and the distance between each of the wires between the long pickets being the same. The short pickets employed in this construction are arranged, as will be seen in the drawings, somewhat differently from. that in Fig. 1; but the exact arrangement of these short pickets is immaterial,- it being only necessary to apply them in such manner as to produce the best results in securing the central wires of the panel together and rendering it best adapted to resist the various strains to which it will be subjected.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1, where the distance on the posts between the middle wires of the fence is twice as great as it is between the upper and lower wires of the series, I employ a supplemental or auxiliary short wire 25, as clearly shown in said figure, which extends from one of the long pickets through the post and to the adjacent long picket 011 The short braces or pickets 22 may IIO the. opposite side thereof. This, it will be seen, serves to fill up this space and give to the entire structure a symmetrical appearance. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 this arrangement, as will be seen, is not necessary.

It is not intended under ordinary circumstances, or when a straight-line fence is being made,that the anchoring devices hereinbefore described shall be applied to any except the end posts, the application thereof to the intermediate or line posts of such fence being unnecessary; but when a fence is to be built which has curves or angles the anchor or draw-brace is unavoidable and should be applied to the posts wherever such curves or angles occur, and as a matter of fact they may be employed wherever the style of fence, the means of attaching the wires to the posts, or the method of tightening the same render them necessary.

It will be observed, of course, that I am not limited in any degree to the number, form, style, or construction of wire employed, nor to any material in the construction of the posts or pickets, or in any manner of attaching the same to the fence, and it is evident that many changes in or departures from the form herein shown and described may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, and I do not therefore limit myself to the exact form shown; but,

Having fully described said invention and the manner of constructing the same, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s I 1. A post for wire fences, provided with a lower section or base having a base-plate or anchor connected therewith, and provided with an upper extension or stem, the sides of which are inclined upwardly and inwardly, and provided with transverse slots or holes, and an upper section secured to said basesection by means of bolts passing therethrough and through said slots, substantially as shown and described.

2. A post for wire fences, consisting of a plurality of sections, the lower or base section of which is providedwith an anchor-plate which extends to some distance therefrom, and is provided with a groove in its outer end, an anchor-bar arranged below said plate, and transversely of said groove, and a drawbrace extending through said groove and connected with said bar, and extending upwardly, and connected with the upper portion of said post, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a wire fence, the combination with each panelor section between the posts, of a series of long yokes, pickets or braces, one being arranged adjacent to each post, and each of which is connected with all the fence-wires, the fence-wires being also arranged in separate series, and the series between the posts and the adjacent long yokes or pickets being inclined from the posts to said yokes or pickets, and all the wires being parallel between said long yokes or pickets, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a Wire fence, the combination with each panel or section between the posts, of a series of long yokes, pickets or braces, one being arranged adjacent to each post, and each of which is connected with all the fence-wires, the fence-wires being also arranged in separate series, and the series between the posts and the adjacent long yokes or pickets being inclined fromthe posts to said yokes or pickets, and'all the wires being parallel between said long yokes or pickets, and said wires between the long yokes or pickets being provided with short pickets or braces, by which two or more are bound together, substantially as shown and described.

5. A post for wire fences or other purposes, provided with a lower section or base, and with an upper section or stem, the side or sides of which are inclined upwardly and inwardly and provided with a transverse slot or slots, and an upper section secured to said extension or stem by means of bolts passing therethrough and through said slot or slots, substantially as shown and described.-

6. In a wire fence the combination with each panel or section between the posts, of a series of long yokes, pickets or braces, one be ing arranged adjacent to each post, and each of which is connected with all the fence-wires, the fence-wires being also arranged in separate series and the series between the posts, and the adjacent long yokes or pickets being inclined toward the center, and all the wires being parallel between said long yokes or pickets, and the wires of the panel between said long pickets being united in series and said series being united by short pickets or braces, and each Wire of the panel being provided with a spring to admit of expansion or contraction under all changes of temperature, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in pres ence of two witnesses, this 5th day of March, 1895.

JOHN T. CONOVER.

\Vitnesses PERcY T. GRIFFITH, O. Gnnsr. 

